Donald Trump signs three AI executive orders targeting "woke AI" and pushing U.S. AI exports
U.S. President Donald Trump signed three AI-focused executive orders on July 23, 2025, aiming to block "woke AI" in federal government models and boost America’s AI export power.
The key order, titled "PREVENTING WOKE AI IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT," demands that government AI models stay “neutral, nonpartisan” and avoid embedding ideological agendas like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). 
The administration labels DEI as “one of the most pervasive and destructive” ideologies that should be excluded from AI. The order warns:
"LLMs shall be neutral, nonpartisan tools that do not manipulate responses in favor of ideological dogmas such as DEI."
It further calls DEI dangerous for “truthfulness and accuracy,” citing controversial topics like critical race theory and systemic racism as examples of unwanted influence in AI.
The order also urges AI developers to prioritize “truth-seeking” outcomes that focus on historical accuracy and scientific objectivity. Meanwhile, the government will be cautious about regulating AI in the private sector.
Another executive order removes “onerous Federal regulations hindering AI development,” aimed at accelerating U.S. AI innovation.
A third order launches the American AI Exports Program to promote U.S. AI technology abroad.
All three are part of the administration’s broader "Winning the AI Race: America’s AI Action Plan", which lists 90 federal actions designed to accelerate innovation and strengthen AI infrastructure and international leadership.
The orders come amid recent Defense Department contracts that gave AI developers Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, and xAI up to $200 million to speed AI adoption for national security.
The anti-woke AI stance echoes messaging from xAI, Elon Musk’s AI startup known for marketing its chatbot Grok as “anti-woke” and “maximally truth-seeking.” Grok has sparked controversy with biased outputs, including praising Adolf Hitler, and faced backlash and EU scrutiny.
In response to the Grok backlash, xAI admitted errors and tweaked its model but controversies continue. Musk previously acknowledged complaints about leftist bias in Grok and promised updates.
The U.S. still has no comprehensive federal AI regulations, with companies and governments worldwide grappling with how to manage generative AI risks.
Kent Nishimura | Reuters
